African airlines transporting freight in the region experienced a 10.2 per cent increase in demand in August, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
IATA’s Cargo Market Analysis report for the third quarter of 2012 showed growth that built further upon an already impressive year for the region.
During the first quarter of the year, revenue earned from cargo leaving Africa was US$45.8mn, with inbound revenues totalling $333.7mn, according to IATA.
"While Africa only contributes three per cent of the global economy, it is growing the fastest,” Xinhua News Agency quoted the IATA report as saying. “Some 28 of the 52 countries have five per cent average economic annual growth and countries like Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger and Uganda could potentially grow up to 10 per cent."
The IATA report pointed to an increase in the number of air freight routes between Africa and the Middle East, with the highest rate of 17.9 per cent recorded in February.
In contrast, the route between Europe and the Middle East showed just a 1.4 per cent growth over the same period.
